Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Days after denying interest in a congressional run, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory has opened the door to a rematch with Democratic Gov. Bev. Perdue.

In a Q&A with Raleigh's WRAL, McCrory, a Republican, was asked whether he would consider running for governor again or even the Senate.

"Yes," he replied. "Running a state-wide race was a great experience (except for election night!!!) and I am proud of the campaign we ran. We participated in (and most believe we won) every debate and proved that a candidate can run an effective, positive campaign. We lived within our fundraising means, didn’t take any loans, and ended the campaign without any debt, just in the same manner I promised I would govern."

McCrory never addressed a possible Senate run, presumably against Democrat Kay Hagan in 2014. But he was critical of Perdue who, he said, "has done an about face on about everything she promised during our campaign."

"I definitely haven't closed the door on any future political options up to and including governor," McCrory told me this morning. "I think I'd be foolish to close doors."

Last week, after opting not to run for Congress from the 8th District, McCrory didn't want to talk about his political future. "Right now my total focus is on completing my term," he said.

44 comments:

Well, after hearing him this morning on WFAE, if he does not change some of his ultra-conservative positions and continues to lash out at the current administration, another run for governor will likely have the same result - a loss.

8/25/2009 01:16:00 PM - I totally agree. He is out of his league (and out-of-touch with reality). I used to think he had good intentions and was just a little slow to recognize the changing winds of politics but now I can see that he is just totally clueless. He is just setting himself up for another bruising.

The only, repeat, ONLY reason Perdue won was because she was a Democrat and rode in on Obama's coattails. McCrory was, and still is, clearly the better candidate. He would not have taxed us to death if he were elected as Perdue has done, which is a foregone conclusion when you elect a Democrat. And the only reason the Democrats won the election was because all the blacks (I refuse to call them African-Americans, because 99.9 percent of them were born here, not Africa) voted Democratic, and that, combined with the vote of the knucklehead white liberal tree-hugging Democrats who want a socialist government, put the most unqualified person in presidential office ever. In just a few short months, this country has gone to hell. People need to come to their senses, realize they voted for the wrong people as another blogger has done, and vote for Pat and other Republicans next time around.

I supported McCrory until he became the only gubernatorial candidate in the country to have George W. Bush campaign for him. That turned my vote to Purdue. However, McCrory is right. She has turned course on a number of issues, and has paid the largest city in the state little more than lip service. Purdue is an embarrasment to North Carolina. And that, from a lifelong Democrat, and proud of it.

I'd like to see him take another shot at it. By the time 2012 rolls around, and the Socialist party has attempted several more atrocities to go along with their attempted government takeovers of the banking, automobile and healthcare industries, perhaps more people will not choose the stupid way out and vote straight-party.

Let me repeat that so that no one misses it - VOTING STRAIGHT-PARTY, EITHER WAY, IS STUPID. Smart people study the issues and the candidates and cast votes for those that will address the issues the best way possible.

If NC voters were smarter and voted for candidates instead of parties, Pat would already be governor and we wouldn't be in the fix we are in today.

Blaming McCrory's loss on straight-ticket voting is as bad as blaming the arena vote outcome on bundling! He sucks. So he lost. Look at all the crap we're left to deal with in charlotte now that he's gone. He didn't keep up with infrastructure, didn't say no to developers and didn't do enough to recruit businesses other than banks to come here. He sucked as mayor and his political career needs to be over now.

Perdue was the default name for that 40% of the population who was instructed by their Pastors and community organizers to vote a straight party Democrat ticket. (When this is done by Republicans the talk becomes removal of the tax exempt status of the church yet other groups routinely do it and no one has an issue...double standard?) The rest of the vote she got from those who had absolutely no clue of the issues or positions. For Mecklenburg to give her a majority of its vote is beyond belief. How is that vote working for you guys with the outer belt money she promised, or the stimulus money, or economic development promises and the list goes on. I guess if you live off the taxpayers she is great for you. It is the dumb leading the stupid.

I would like to know what you guys think Pat would have or could have done if he was elected governor?He would have been forced to do the same things but you guess would have hailed him because he is a "conservative" republican!

anon 8:25 doesn't know how "All blacks voted". The same way that I don't know if all of the Klan voted for Palin/ Mccain (though they probably did). The country has gone to heck in 8 months? Where were you for 8 years? Keep voting against your own best interest. Just reading your post I'd be willing to bet you are not earning over 250k a year as any Palin/ Mccain voter should be.

Do you think Gov McCrory would be able to wave a magic wand and solve all of Charlotte's problems? That just having a Charlottean will make a big difference? No it won't. He can't just pronounce Charlotte laws, stop dreaming.

The statehouse is dominated and run completely by Democrats. That is not going to change. The Gov has limited influence to begin with. After all the bashing of the Legislature Pat has done, they would never work with him and it would only result in more of a quagmire.

NC Governor is one of the most powerful in the Country, they have Line Item Veto Powers.

McCrory could use his power to steer funding to Charlotte and Western NC which routinely gets shafted by the Eastern NC Democrat Machine, which if you ever visit you'll notice how nice the roads and such are out that way. Its that way for a reason.

Anon. 1:50 PM: You are wrong you know... If you take all of us that voted for Mike Munger because we didn't want either McCrory or Perdue... add those votes to McCrory's total... and this past election would be different. (Within the percentages anyway.)

Don't make it an easy black or white issue here - some of us didn't want either one of them. So don't blame me - I'd vote for Munger again in a heartbeat.

Even if McCrory managed to squeak in, he would be Gov of NC not just Charlotte. In his new job he would need support statewide to reelected. It would not be Charlotte front and center. Some of you really need to get over this victim complex. The economy is bad everywhere. McCrory would be in the same ratings basement as Perdue is in.

Anon 5:28 you are on the mark - Sandhills vers Charlotte and Wetern NC. It goes beyond parties and to the original settlers of this area. Maybe those who pulled that Dem straight ticket enjoy South Blvd, Morehead, undersized interstates, large classrooms, etc, etc, etc. Bubba in Rocky Mount really likes the new road to his hog farm

Think next time you get a chance to put a hometown representative in a leadership role.

McCrory is still fuming about the straight ticket voting loss in his own home (ditto Gore 2000) where he has been the most popular mayor ever. He can even crow about the Purdue beltway screwing.

The great state of Mecklenburg may be great and all but adjacent counties lived up to their billing as being in the greater metro area voting against Purdue. They dont call it greater for nothing and now we know the rest of the story.